Using a combination of two balanced armature and one dynamic driver, the 1MORE Triple Driver offers a lot of promise for not a lot of money.

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Highlights

The 1MORE Triple-Driver Headphones are priced at Rs 8,999 but can be purchased for a bit less if you look around.

The headphones feature two balanced armature drivers and one dynamic driver in each ear casing.

Sound imaging is superior, while driver integration could be better.

While most headphones that are priced below Rs 10,000 sport dynamic drivers, continued innovation and economies of scale means that it’s possible to buy more innovative and technologically advanced products without breaking the bank. Many small manufacturers today use cost-effective marketing and distribution methods to make even seemingly high-end headphones much more affordable. One such brand is 1MORE, which has taken the audio world by storm.

A few months ago, we reviewed the 1MORE Piston Fit headphones. While it wasn’t mind-blowing, we did like it and the value on offer with that headset. Today, we’re reviewing a newly-launched product from 1MORE, called the Triple Driver Headphones. As you can imagine, the headset uses a total of three drivers in each earbud to give you a promise of better sound, all at a price of Rs 8,999. Does this headset live up to the promise? We find out in our review.

Design and Specifications

Available in gold and grey color options, the Triple Driver headphones don’t look too fancy, but don’t look very ordinary either. Tall stalks, a drum-shaped driver casing and angled earpieces make up each individual earphone, and the color you buy essentially dictates the color of the accents. The ear casings are metal, and have the 1MORE logo on one side, and the left/right markings on the other. It’s built well and looks interesting enough, but don’t expect any compliments.

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The headset uses a fabric-wrapped cable below the Y-splitter, and slim rubber cables above it. Naturally, tangle-resistance exists only below the splitter, with the top incredibly susceptible to tangles. You also get a three-button remote and microphone, which is a welcome addition to the headset. Most audiophile-targeted options such as this tend to skip this, and it’s nice to have the option of using the headset for calls apart from music and videos.

In terms of specifications, the 1MORE Triple Driver is impressive. The headset uses a three-driver system, comprised of two balanced armature drivers to handle the upper segments of the frequency range, and a dynamic driver for low end. Frequency response ranges from 20-40,000Hz, sensitivity measures in at 99dB, and impedance is a reasonable 32Ohms, which means that the Triple Driver can be driven by most smartphones and media players with ease. The headset weighs about 18g, making it comfortable to wear as well. You get replacement ear tips in the box, so you can pick one that fits you best.

Performance

We tested the 1MORE Triple Driver Headphones primarily with a smartphone and Windows laptop, trying out various audio formats and genres. Our focus tracks included Isis by Hot Natured, First Of The Year by Skrillex and We Are The People by Empire of the Sun.

Starting with Isis, I was impressed with the attack and drive of the headphones. Indeed, this is where the three drivers under the hood are showing their true nature. With each driver handling a different part of the range, there’s also a distinct flavor to the three segments. The sound is neatly divided up, and this lets you lock focus on whatever elements of the song you prefer. Sound is clean, driven and powerful. While the track has a distinct mid-range, the lows are also aggressive. The Triple Driver headphones did a decent job in splitting the sound, and this helps with the imaging greatly.

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With the highs and mids predominantly handled by the balanced armature drivers, you can hear the difference in the sound quality between the upper frequencies and the low-end. In this case, the dynamic drivers that handle the low-end frequencies are clearly not of the same caliber as the balanced armature drivers, and I could hear this clearly in the bass-heavy First Of The Year by Skrillex.

The lows sound muddled at even moderate volumes, while the mids and highs continue to sound clean and crisp. Reducing the volume a bit takes away the drive, but fixes the slight distortion. Essentially, the dynamic drivers simply cannot handle too much attack, and aren’t holding their own when compared to the balanced armature drivers. While listening to We Are The People, I also felt a bit lacking in the mid-range, but it’s a very small drop. The over-enthusiasm of the lows and the sparkle in the high-end essentially drown out the vocals a bit, but not a lot. Luke Steele’s vocal performance retains its edge, but there isn’t much detail to be heard beyond the basics.

Verdict

The 1MORE Triple Driver headphones are an incredible achievement, simply because it was previously unimaginable to have a triple-driver hybrid headset at under Rs 10,000. This combination of drivers may not be perfect in every way because of a clear difference in performance with the balanced armature drivers and the dynamic drivers. However, in most cases, you’ll enjoy the drive, crispness of the highs and incredible sound imaging.

Similar money could also buy you the RHA MA750 or Shure SE215M+, but the sheer advantage of multiple drivers working together is something you can only get with the 1MORE Triple Driver. It’s definitely worth considering and auditioning if you have the chance, and the microphone and in-line remote is a distinct plus for an audiophile-friendly headset like this.